Single push button switch



April 19, 1960 H. HUBBELL ETAL v SINGLE PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed Jan. :5, 1957 INVENTORS \t] 29 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 2,933,578 SINGLE PUSH BU'ITON swrrcu Harvey Hubbell, Southport, and Ernest R. Carlson, Fairfield, Conn., assignors to Harvey Hubbell, Incorporated, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application January'3, 1957, Serial No. 632,369 4 Claims. (Cl. 200-156) This invention relates to electrical switches, and particularly to a push button switch in which a single push button is used to operate the switch to either the open or closed position.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved means for operating the switch, in which successive operations of a single push button will operate the switch alternately to open or closed position.

Another objectis to provide an improved operating means for the switch, including a rotary ratchet in which a spring finger for operating the ratchet is molded in one piece with an integral part of a molded plastic push button of nylon or other plastic material having similar characteristics.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, we have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a partial longitudinal section and partial side view of a switch embodying this invention, the section being substantially on the plane of the line 11 in Fig.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the plane of the line 22 of Fig. 3 and showing a side elevation of the switch and its operating means in another position;

Fig. 3 is a partial front view of the switch;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the body of the switch with the push button removed;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the inner or lower section of the switch with the upper section of the body and the push button removed;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the push button;

Fig. 7 is a partial section and partial side view of the ratchet mechanism for operating the switch, and

Fig; 8 is a perspective view of the movable switch element and one of the stationary elements.

This improved switch comprises a body 10 composed of two members 11- and 12 of suitable molded insulating material placed in superimposed position and secured together by screws 13 passing therethrough and threaded into a metal mounting yoke or bridge 14 on the top or outer side of the outer section 12 and provided with the usual ears 15 at its opposite ends for usewith suitable screws for mounting the switch in the standard wall outlet box (not shown) of the usual house wiring system. Also shown and secured to this yoke isv a face or cover plate 16 by means of screws 17 and used to cover the opening in the wall box and the opening in the wall surface, as well as provide a finished appearance.

In the form shown the switch comprises a movable switch member 18 which may be an electrical conducting spring strip carrying one or moresuitable contacts 19 and 20 at its free end and mounted at its other end in the lower section 11 .of the body, in the form shown comprising a downwardly bent extension 21 seated in a slot 22 extending inwardly from the side of the member 11 and having a laterally extending plate portion 23 in a recess 24 in the side of the member 11 and carrying the usual binding screw 25 for connection of a lead wire thereto. Adjacent the opposite end of this movable switch member is a stationary contact 25 carried by an angular plate 27 mounted in a recess 28 in the side of the member 11, and carrying another binding screw 29 for connection of another lead wire to this contact. A similar and second stationary contact 39 may be mounted in the outer or upper member 12 above the contact 26 to cooperate with the contact 19 of the movable member and having a binding screw 31 for connection of a lead wire thereto. With this arrangement the movable contact element may be shifted between the two stationary contacts 26 and 40, and therefore shift its contacts 19 and 20 to alternately engage and be separated from contacts 30 and 26 respectively.

Improved means is provided for operating the movable switch member 18 between these positions. This comprises a rotary wheel 32 provided with a series of alternate notches 33 and ridges or ribs 34 extending longitudinally, and at one end of this wheel is a toothed ratchet member 35 comprising a series of spaced shoulders 36 facing in one direction and inclined curved surfaces 37 connecting the bottom of each shoulder with the top of the next adjacent shoulder. The wheel and ratchet are mounted for rotary movement by suitable end bearings 38 seated in bearing notches 39 in opposite side walls of the recess 46 in the inner member 11.

Means is provided for rotating the ratchet 35 and the ribbed wheel 3-2 with a step-by-step movementto shift the movable switch member 18 and the contacts 19 and 20 carried thereby to their alternate positions. This comprises a push button 41 preferably molded of suitable plastic material, preferably nylon or a plastic having similar characteristics. As illustrated, it is a hollow member with a recess 42 opening through its lower side and providing an outer contact surface 43 which may be pressed by a thumb or finger of the user to operate the switch, this outer portion of the body extending through V a suitable opening 44 in the face or cover plate 16. At one end the push button 41 is provided with laterally spaced pivot lugs 45 seating in suitable spaced recesses 46 in the outer side of the body member 12 to provide a pivotal mounting for the button 41. At its opposite side it is provided with a laterally extending lug 47 adapted to engage under a soft, resilient bumper plate 48 mounted in a recess 49 in the front side of the body member 12 and retained in this recess by the mounting yoke 14. This bumper plate may be of soft rubber material which limits outward movement of the push button 41 and also acts as a sound deadener for quiet operation of the switch. The push button is normally held in this position by a coil spring 50 seating at its inner end on a suitable raised bump or nub 51 in the bottom wall of the recess 40 and its upper end seating over a similar bump 47a on the extension 47 of the push button.

For operating the toothed ratchet 35 and the ribbed wheel 32 from this push button, there is provided a resilient or spring finger 52 projecting downwardly from the This is a compression spring tending to shift the push button outwardly to its outer or upper position, as shown in Fig. 2

retains its free end against the toothed ratchet 3 5 and permits this finger to flex laterally when the button 41 is pushed inwardly, to cause the free end of this finger to alternately cngagethe shoulders 36 and follow move mentof the shoulder in a partial turning of theratchet, and on release of the button 41 and on its movement to itsouter or normal retracted position,will cause the free end of this fingerSZ to snap into the next following notch of the toothed ratchet to'engage the next following shoulder 36 on the next inward movement of the push button, to operate the switch member 18 from the ribbed wheel 32. A button or nub 53 is provided on the member 18 to seat alternately in the notches 33 and on the tops of the ridges 34 of the wheel 32. When seated in the notches 33,tlie' switch member 18 is in its lower position, with the contact 20,carried thereby in engagement with the lower switchcontact 26, and when the nub 53 is seatedon the top of the ridges 34, switch member 18 is in its upper position with the contact 19 carriedthereby in engagement with the upper stationary contact 30. The teeth and shoulders 36 are so proportioned with respect to the notches and ridges 33, 34 that each successive operation of the ratchet by the push button 41 will shift the wheel 32 the distance between the center. of the notch 33 and the adjacent ridge 34, so. that in successive operations of the push button 41 the button 53 on the movable contact will alternately seat in a notch 33 and on a rib 34. The outer. surfaces of the ribs 34 are preferably recessed slightly to a concave shape as indicated at 54 so that the rounded end of the button 53 will have a seat therein, and pressure of the spring actionof the member 18 will not tend to cause it to slide oh" the wheel by turning this wheel in this position.

'By using the two stationary contacts 26 and 30,,the ac- 7 tion ofthe switch will be to alternately control two sepa--' rate circuits, but it will be understood that either stationary member could be used merely as a bumperror stop for the movable contact member in its ofi position.

In'the drawing, only one movable contact member '18 is shown, but two ribbed wheels 32 are shown on opposite sides of the toothed ratchet wheel 35. This is so that if desired an additional movable contact member 18 could be used for operation by the second wheel 32 if desired forcontrolling more circuits.

It will be seen from the above that with this simple and eifective mechanism, alternate successive depressions of the push button 41 will shift the movable switch member 18 alternately to the twordifierent positions. The spring finger 52 for operating the ratchet by movements of this push button has been found inactual test, when molded in one piece with the member 41 from nylon or resilient action indefinitely and for much longer periods and more effectively than the usual type of spring. It also eliminates the use of separate springs, simplifies assembly operations, and eliminates any liability of the spring finger getting out of position.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, we claim:

1. In an electric switch, a movable switch member,-an operating rotatable wheel for said member having a series of laterally spaced radially extending ribs, the spaces be tween the ribs and their outer edges providing-alternate high and low points on the periphery of the wheel, a lug on the switch member seating alternately on said high ratchet wheel to rotateit with. astep-by-step movement on successive depressions of the push button, said finger comprising a flexible resilient strip of the same material as the button molded at one end in one integral piece with this button and having an opposite laterally movable free end engaging the ratchet wheel.

2. In an electric switch, a movable switch member, an operating wheel for said member having a series of alternate longitudinal ribs and channels, a lug on the switch member sea'tingalternately on said ribs and in thechannels to locate the; switch member in different positions, means for. rotating the wheel with a step-by-step movement comprising a toothed ratchet wheel connected thereto, a push button of molded plastic having characteristics similar to nylon, and afiexible spring finger on the button comprising a resilient strip of the same material as the button molded in one integral piece at one end with the body ofthis push buttonrand having a laterally movablefree end engaging the ratchet wheel to rotate the wheels with a step-by-step movement upon successive depressions of the push button.

3. In an electric switch, a movable switch member, an operating wheel for said member having a Series of alternate longitudinal ribs and channels, means on the switch member seating alternatelyon said ribs and in the channels to; locate the switch member in different positions, means for rotating the wheel withastep-by-step movement comprising a toothed ratchet wheel connected thereto, a push button of molded plastic material having characteristics similar to nylon including a body member of substantially rectangular shape havinga longitudinally inclined outer surface from an inner to an outer end, means pivotallymounting said body member.

adjacent the inner end of said inclined surface permitting said button when pushed inwardlyto come to a position with saidsurface non-inclined, and a flexible spring finger of the same material as the body of the button molded at one endrin one integral piece with the button, said finger depending from the inner sideof the button and including a movable free end fingaging the ratchet wheel to rotates the wheels with a step-by-step movement upon successive depressions of the push button.

4. In anelectricfswiwh, a movable switch member, an operating wheel for said member having a series of alternate high and low points on its periphery, means on the switch member seating alternately on said high and low points for-positioningthe switch member in different positiollsrmeaus for rotating said wheel comprissimilar plastic material, to retain its proper spring or V and low points in the ribs and spaces respectively to posi- 1 tion the switch member indifierentpositions'and cooper ating'with the ribs and spacesjto retain the wheel in itsy. corresponding alternate positions, means'fo'r rotating said wheel comprising a rotatable ratchetwheel provided with a series of peripherally spaced shoulders, a push button of molded plastic havingcharacteristics similar to nylon, and a spring finger on the button cooperating with the ing a rotatable ratchet wheel provided with aseries of p ph ally spa e s ould rs, .ap h b tton comp i a pivoted hollow body member having a chamber opening through its lower side, said member of molded nylon or similar resilient plasticmaterial, a flexible spring finger carried by the button having a laterally movable free end engaging the ratchet wheel and cooperating therewith to rotate the wheels with a step-by-step movement on successive depressions of the push button, and said spring finger comprising a strip of the same material as the body member and molded at the end opposite its free end in one integral piece with. the top wall of the chamber and depending therefrom,"

References Citedinthe file of this patent UNITED' STATES PATENTS 2,761,936 Verkuil Sept. 4, 1956 

